Snow melting apparatus



May 10, 1932. J. R. PETERS I snow MELTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1929 '3 Sheets-Sheet awvewtbz J R PUT/$9 I HUH aha/"Mao May 10, 1932.

J. R. PETERS I SNOW ME ELTING APPARATUS Filed Sept 26, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet c 4 //J l IIIIIIIIl/l 1 h r- I L r 'IIIIIIII/II May 10, 1932. .1. R. PETERS I I SNOW MELTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26,I 1929 Q I v 1. u

h v L a machine which is so constructed that flames Patented May 10, 1932 UNITEDFSTATES PATENT oF-FlcE JOHN nnoronrnrnnshor NEW YORK, N.Y.,'ASSIG1\TOR oroN -rmwn TO JOHN'J. r. i

, @PLANETA,OIE NEWYORK,1\T.Y.

I snow MELTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an improved" machine for removing snow from streets or car tracks, it being understood that it may also be used for removing grass and weeds so de-' sired.

One object of the invention is to provide from a burner may be, directed downwardly toward the snow, and further to; hold the burner in a supporting frame which is suspended beneath a vehicle body" or other suitable carrier which in addition to carrying the burner, also carries a box likestructure r which serves as a container for compressed air which may be directed downwardly towards the burner.

Another objectof the invention is to so constructthis machine that the compressed air box may serve not only as a container for the compressedairbut may also serve as a deflector plate which will serve to throw the heat of the burner downwardly, the compressed air. serving to downwardly blow steam which might have a tendency .to rise and smother the flame of the burner and in addition to this function, also serving to supply oxygen to assist inproviding. a good flame. v V

Another object of the invention is to so constructthe machine that the supporting frame jwhich carries the burner and compressed air box may be tilted vertically out of a horizontal position and thus easily brought into position above snow formed into irregular drifts. a

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lfis a view showing the improved machine. partially in side elevation and par-.

tially in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the burner and the supporting frame which carries the same. Figures 3,4 and-5 are sectional views taken along the lines 33, and 5-5 respectively of 2.

Figure 6-'s a fragmentary sectionalfview through one end portion of the burner pipe and water jacket pipe. This "machine is provided with a'carriage which isindicated in general-by the numeral 1' and will be provided with a conventional frame construction. In the present illustration, thiscarria'ge isa horsedrawn vehicle, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to "the specific form of carriage disclosed; I 4

Upon the platform 2 there has been'mount ed a steam boiler 3, a water tank 4, a fuel a platform 2 and tank 5, and turbinemotors .6, 7 and Bwhich receive their steam. supply from the boiler" 3 through the conductor pipe 9. *The motor 6 operates a water pump 10 which is of a conventional constructionand the motors 7 and 8 operate air compressors 11 and 12 which are also of a conventional construction." Wlndlasses 13' are carried by the platform 2 and carry'chains 14 or other {suitable flexible cable elements whichex't'end through openings in the platform and carry hooks '15,,attheir freeends; i

' The frame 16 which is to carry-the burner and compressed airibox, is in the form of an open substantially rectangular frame formed hangerbars 17 which are secured at theirup- 7 per ends to the carriage and have their'lower ends loosely connected with the side "bars of 'frame and thus permit of its being held'in a horizontal position as shown in full lines'in Fig. 1 or tilted to an: inclined position as indicated by dotted lines in this. figure. The

Windlass and the otherichain' let out. I

" The burner is supported onthe frame 16 and Zrests upon; the inwardly extending flanges of, the angle iron bars fromwhich the 3 'so "the frame 16 by; means of fasteners {18.which end bars of'thefranie areconnected with the hooks'or engaging elements 15" of the chains ne of the chains will be wound upon th'e frame is formed This burner "embodies an 1 inner. pipe 20 and. an outer pipe 21, the inner pipe 20being termedjthe burnei pipe and the outer pipe 21 bein'g'termeda water jacket Fig. 6 and the sections of the-"burnerancl' water jacket pipes .will .be provided with alined threaded openings so thatthe nozzles 323 mayzbegpassed through these alined -openings. Bylproviding this. construction .which 1 .isshown: clearlyrin Figs. 3and .4; the, nozzles v machine is in use. lEach endofzthe water .a-conduit pipe 3O which is connected with .lthe'manifold iilbymeans of a flexibleplpe .23;ser.ve ,not onlyiasnozzles, but .alsoas means for. centering the. burner pipe'within the-Water jacket pipe. Thenozzles vof o'nesection otthe burner are positioned in staggered .relation to: the nozzles of adjoining-sectionsand therefore the j etsvof; flame will be well distributed vandtthe snowavillrbe quicklymelted when the acket pipe-Will beprovided withiacoupling '24-so that ,the'ends ofthe water jacket maybe connected with flexible pipes -which lead from pipes 2.6 and 27. The pipe .26 leads from the water tank .4. and the pi pe27 leads -fronrthe .-p11mp 10. .This ,pump .10 is con- ,nected with the water tank by .means I of a pipe 2.8 and itwillbe readily seen that when the pump is in operation, thewater will be circulatedihroughthe water jacket and the :burnerpipe -will-bekept sufiicientlycool to prevent. danger of explosion from over-heat ing; .The fuel is carried in .the tank 5 which is connected with the air compressor 11 bymeans-of a gpipe29 and is provided with section 32. This .manifold .31 .is provided rwithoutletsin which will bescrewednipples 33, the nipples 33- beingpassed througharegis- ,teringthreaded.openingsin the couplings at one side of .the burner. Therefore the .fuel

v .4. B y properlvadjusting the valvesthefuel :may: be :fed into the sections: of ,theaburner. and .the.burnerkeptproperly filled .withthe fuel.

Eachsectionfoflthe burnerisprovided with a ,valve 34Wh10l1-1S constructed as shoWnin-Fig.

may .be permittedto enter certain sections of the burner :and excluded from other: sections v if desired. It ,will thus be seenthat when the burner .isyfirst .lighted the :fuel maybe admittedto .the'section. at one. en d. of the burner .and .after .this section .has .been lighted, the

othersectionssuccessively broughtinto operation. 1 The ,sections will .thus be well heated before lighted andzthe devicewill operate ina .very,efiicient.manner.

- As previously explained, it is vdesiredto have the .heat directed downwardly toward .maining ones being affected;

the snow which is to be melted and therefore there has been provided a box 35 which rests in the supporting frame 16 above and preferably upon the burner. This box which will be termed the compressed air box is provided with .an inlet which is connected with the [pipe 36 ofthe air compressoril by a length of flexible piping 37. Outlet nozzles, 38, are

screwed into openings formed in the bottom of the 'box. 35 and arepositioned adj aeent the sections otthe burner as shown in Fig. 3. From an inspection of this figure it will be 'readily-"se-enthat the air from the box will p ss through .thesenozzles 38 and will be directed downwardly so that this air will .serve to -mix withthegas whichvpasses ofl through the nozzles. 23,,thusproviding-awry good combustible .fluid. ,These jets .otair .will alsoserveto dissipate. steam .formedby the melted snow and there will be no danger of the steam forming a. blanket which vwould tend to smotherthe flame. I

When thismachineisin use, .itris moved alongand the flame directed against thesnow thusmelting it. If itisfound. thatxthe snow :has been formed ,into drifts .or pile s over which .the "trainer-cannot .be. readily .moved when in a horizontal. position, the frame will be .tllted. vas.1nd1ca'ted.by dottedrlines in Fig.

1 andthe machine...can:then.be. easilyunoved into the proper position abovethe snow; If it is not desired toumake .useoflalleof the burner sections, the .valves. of :anydesired number maybe closed andlthe 'fuel willibe prevented from entering .these sections. 'It will ofcourse bev obviousrthatthe pipeslead- ,ing to the variousturbine motors-canQbeprovvided withsuitable valves sot-hat certainbf these motors can be cutofi .without the .re-

Iclaim: v ,1. A machine.of.the...character described comprising a carriage, a support mounted beneath the carriage .forxvertical tilting movement, means carried by saidcarriagefor ip votally ad usting said support, .a burner carried bysaidsupport for .direetingQflame downwardly, and a compressed .air boxcar- .ried. by. the. support abovetheburner andhaving outlets for directing air adjacentfthe; flame ofthe burnerg;

2. A snow melting machine comprisinga carriage, a rectangular substantiallyihorizontal frame mounted-on saidcarriagefandembodying parallel side bars each :formedfiof angle metal-and provided with one vertically pro ecting flange .andone inwardly proecting horizontal flange, abiirneremhodying a plurality of elongatedburner pipes .extendmg between said side bars, the'ends of said burner pipes resting on said inwardly pro ectmg horizontal flanges andg abutting said vertical flanges, said..-burner pipes having .means .ri'or directing j ets ofrfiame-downwardly, a substantially fiat..coinpressed air- 1 box resting upon said burner pipes and substantially coextensive in area with the zone occupied by said burner pipes, said box being provided with means for downwardly directing ets of air adjacent said burner pipes, fuel supply means for the burner mounted on said carriage, and compressed air supply means for said box also mounted on said carriage.

3. A snow melting machine com rising a carriage, a rectangular substantia 1y horizontal frame mounted on said carriage and embodying parallel side bars, a burner em bodying a plurality of elongated burner pipes extending between and supported by said side bars, said burner pipes having means for directing jets of flame downwardly, a substantially flat compressed-air box disposed immediately over said burner pipes and substantially co-extensive in area with the zone occupied by said burner pipes, said box being provided with means for downwardly directing jets of air adjacent said burner pipes,

fuel supply means for the burner mounted on said carriage, and compressed air supply means for said box also mounted on said carriage.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a carriage, a support beneath said carriage, suspending means pivotally connected with said support intermediate the length of the latter, said suspending means being carried by said carriage, means for pivotally adjusting said support and retaining it in adjusted position, a burner carried by said support, a compressed-air box carried by said support above said burner for deflecting flame downwardly from the burner, said box having outlet nozzles for directing jets of air downwardly, and means carried by said carriage for supplying air under pressure to said box.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. 7

JOHN HECTOR PETERS. 

